Part-time Red Cross instructor Antoinne Mobley (left) demonstrates CPR techniques for NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn (middle) and Councilman Daniel Garodnick (right). (Photo: William Alatriste)

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, accompanied by Councilman Daniel Garodnick, Mr. Joe McNeary, representing Councilman Robert Jackson, and Mr. Jeffrey Laufer, representing Councilwoman Annabel Palma, toured the American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) Headquarters building in Manhattan on Monday, March 10 to highlight the Chapter's disaster relief and preparedness programs during Red Cross Month.

After a brief welcome by Chapter CEO Theresa A. Bischoff, City Council guests viewed a six-minute video about the work of the organization in responding to emergencies and disasters across the five boroughs.

Council Speaker Quinn was complimentary about ARC/GNY. "The government can not be everywhere and do everything … we do the best we can because we work with fabulous partners like American Red Cross in Greater New York.”

The group toured the Chapter's on-premises transportation center, the Emergency Operations Center, where the Chapter manages responses and coordinates with partner agencies during emergencies, and Emergency Communications Center, from which the Chapter monitors and responds to all emergencies in Greater New York. The finishing touch was an abbreviated CPR demonstration by Antoinne Mobley, a part-time Red Cross instructor.

“The Red Cross will be there without being asked, and often arrives first.  Thank you all for standing up, and being such a tremendous partner,” said Speaker Quinn. “I know I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear that the Red Cross is on the scene.”